Remember Armand V. Feigenbaum from TQC to TQM

We lost a great quality guru Armand V. Feigenbaum, who passed away on 12 November 2014, at the age of 92. He was a world renowned quality guru and author of the multi-edition book on “Total Quality Control” first published in 1961. He had been active in promoting quality as a vehicle for achieving performance excellence in businesses and industry by advocating the practice of “Total Quality Control” (TQC), later known as “Total Quality Management” (TQM). Amongst his numerous involvements in professional bodies, he served as President of ASQ for two consecutive terms in years 1961 to 1963. Moreover, he was granted ASQ 1965 Edwards Medal in recognition of "his origination and implementation of basic foundations for modern quality control".

 Click here to learn more about A.V. Feigenbaum through ASQ website.

I have his famous book “Total Quality Control” in third edition in 1991.

Mr. Gregory H. Watson (Past-President and Fellow of the American Society for Quality; President of the International Academy for Quality) has written an article named “Feigenbaum’s Enduring Influence” in Quality Progress in 2005. He said Feigenbaum has been a role model for managerial innovation and its implementation. Feigenbaum has earned a unique place in the history of engineering through his definition, advancement and execution of the principles of TQM.

Feigenbaum combined academic theory with practical performance to reform his ideas into his approach and highligths of his career were showed in the following diagram. (Form Gregory H. Watson article page 53)

It is a great loss in the quality world!

Reference:
Feigenbaum, Armand Vallin (1961), Total Quality Control, McGraw-Hill
- (1991) Third Edition, Revised
Gregory H. Watson (2005) “Feigenbaum’s Enduring Influence”, Quality Progress, Nov 2005, pp.51-56. (http://www.gregoryhwatson.eu/index-4.html)